Commies Blocking Labor Reforms
Often portrayed as a capitalist
communist of the modern Chinese
variety, West Bengal Chief Minister
Buddhadev Bhattacharjee conceded
that “globalization is inescapable”
but told Industry representatives
that major labor reforms are
unnecessary.<More>

Poultry Broiler Set to Grow
The US Department of Agriculture
(USDA) predicted that India’s
poultry broiler meat productions is
likely to grow by 10% to 2.2 million
tons (mt) in 2007 because of strong
domestic demand and the nation is
free from Highly Pathogenic Avian
Influenza (HPAI).<More>

Congress Expels Natwar’s Son
In a major blow to Natwar Singh’s hopes of rescue by the Gandhi family, the
Congress Party expelled Natwar’s son Jagat Singh even as Jagat’s friend’s
petition in the Supreme Court (SC) for absolution from Justice RS Pathak
Inquiry commission’s indictment.<More>

Environment, Health and Education

SC Halts Genetic Foods
The Supreme Court (SC) asked the Genetic Engineering
Approval Committee (GEAC) to halt approvals to
genetically modified products till it can determine that
these foods have been sufficiently tested and safe for
human consumption. <More>

Torture, Censorship, and Repression in ‘Azad’ Kashmir
Human Rights groups say that in so-called ‘Azad’ (free)
Kashmir , largely closed to international and
independent scrutiny, the Pakistani Government represses
democratic freedom, stymies the press and media, and
uses torture as instrument of administration.<More>

Terrorism, Defense, Security and Science &
Technology

Army Restarts War on ULFA
India called off its truce with the United
Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) moving several
Army columns to re-launch anti-militant
operations in Tinsukia and Jorhat districts in
upper Assam and in Nagaon, Barpeta, and Darrang
districts in lower Assam.<More>

Iraq War “Spawned new Terror”
A classified report by US Intelligence found
that the war in Iraq has “spawned new terror”
activity and a new generation of Islamic
radicalism and that the overall terror threat
has grown significantly since September 11, 2001.<More>

Pak Delays F-16 Deal
Accusing the US of stripping down the F-16s to
less than effective and imposing unacceptable
conditions for usage, Pakistan has delayed
signing the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for the
USD 3 billion deal till December 31, 2006.<More>

Neighbors

China ’s Aging Population Plan
Thanks to its disastrous and draconian one-child policy,
China is set to have an “irreversible” ageing society in
the 21st Century but the country seems to have devised a
broad-based plan to address economic and social
pressures from the ageing population.<More>

Indian ‘No’ to TNA Team, ‘Yes’ to Others
Affirming its policy of separating the rights of the Sri
Lankan Tamils from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE), India refused to entertain members of the Sri
Lankan Tamil National Alliance (TNA) but has invited
other parties for consultations.<More>

World

Russia-US Relations Set to Worsen
A Russian Parliamentary report alerted
policy makers that the US will continue to
pursue a hostile policy towards Moscow
regardless of political affiliations or
incumbent in the White House as they
struggle for influence over world energy,
power, and politics.<More>

Hezbollah Refuses to Disarm
In his first public appearance Hezbollah
leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed before a
massive 500,000-rally that his cadre will
not disarm and claimed a “divine, historic
and strategic victory” even as Israeli
troops withdrew and UN peacekeepers
deployment was on track.<More>

Facing sharp criticisms from all quarters on failure to
curb spread of polio in {Uttar Pradesh (UP)}, the Health
Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss now says that it “will
launch a massive campaign” to “win the battle with the
virus.”